344 A SPORTING TRIP THROUGH ABYSSINIA 



own folly and disobedience to orders. Eventually I 

 decided that, while the camp went round to Gallamider 

 next day, I would have a last try for the buffalo and 

 rejoin my men by taking a short cut over the hills. 



Next morning, after impressing on every one the 

 necessity of using the greatest caution, we started off to 

 where we parted from the trail on the previous night. 

 Here I left my mule, and soon found the spot where the 

 buffalo had been grazing at the entrance of a narrow 

 side-valley. Up this we made our way very slowly, 

 keeping along the opposite slope to the one they had 

 taken, when I suddenly saw a tree move, as though a 

 beast were rubbing against it, but the foliage was so 

 thick that we could see nothing of the cause. However, 

 I felt certain that we were near the game, so, telling the 

 guide to follow the track slowly, I went on up a steep 

 bank to the head of the nulla ; but as I saw no signs of 

 the herd, was about to return, when I heard a crashing 

 in the valley below me, and, running forward, was just 

 in time to see two bulls climbing the opposite slope, 300 

 yards off. I squatted down and fired four shots in quick 

 succession with the .256, with the result that one animal 

 stumbled to the second shot, but recovered itself, and 

 both dashed down towards the larger valley. Running 

 round the hill I could see only one beast, which was 

 standing by the junction of the nulla with the main 

 valley. While I had three shots at it at very long 

 range, Hyde tore down the hill-side to cut the throat of 

 the other animal, if haply it had fallen. When I reached 

 the bottom of the valley I found my syce had deliberately 

 disobeyed my orders by following us with my mule and 



